Iranians to stand with Syria 'as before'

TEHRAN, Apr. 09 (MNA) – President Hassan Rouhani has reiterated Iran's support for Syrian nation and government in their fight against threats to their territorial integrity.

Mr. Rouhani made a phone call to President Bashar al-Assad following the US missile attack on a Syrian airbase earlier last week. He offered condolences by him and on behalf of Iranians to President Assad on the death of civilians during US missile attack. He also discredited claims that Syria had been behind the chemical attack in Khan Shaikhoun in Idlib, while Syrian stockpiles had been subject to UN supervision and destroyed before.
"Such attacks would only serve terrorists who had sustained severe defeats and had been pushed on the edge in both Iraq and Syria; all conscientious countries should condemn the US missile attack; despite this, we believe that the strong will to fight terrorism and efforts on peace process in Syria will not be affected by the incidents," Rouhani told Assad. "Use of chemical weapons against civilians is a horrible act unpardonable by any standards, and the incident sought to deflect the international public's attention from the realities in Syria."
Rouhani denounced parties whom he believed, "were in the wrong track to think that they will be an effective player in the future of Syria with supporting terrorism."
"Iran's government and nation will stand with Syria in their struggle with forces of darkness to protect their territorial integrity, and strongly condemn the US attack as violation of a sovereign nation's borders," he added.
President Assad hailed Rouhani's unwavering support for his government and country and shared with him the view that US missile attack was a source of happiness for terrorists and gave a tinge of hope for them to rebuild their defeated camp; "it also sought to break the strong will and spirit of Syrian army and the nation; the attack will only make us ever more resolved in our path to crush terrorists and to restore our territorial integrity at the end of the day," he said.